Her Absolution

Chapter 6

    The rest of the day went smoothly, with no fighting or arguing. Also, I thought I will get away from Ashton that’s not true. We have the same classes, I don't know about last period since I don't have one. 

    I’ll just have to keep my distance as much as I can if what the morning and lunch fiascos prove that he is a magnet to drama, even more when he creates it. Unfortunately, Sarah and Marcus aren’t in the same classes with me after lunch.

    So, Marcus told me not to wait for Sarah or him when I finish my classes in the afternoon, that he would drive Sarah back home. I told them that I can wait but they insisted that I don’t have to. A part of me is happy but another is a little sad, I’m going to drive 35 to 38 minutes alone and I feel bad since I was the one who drove Sarah. But she told me it was okay. It was also a way for us to take time apart. She's right ever since Asher’s death we have been inseparable it was a miracle she slept last night at her house on her own bed.

    I finish my first day of school, it was not perfect or what I expected but it wasn’t horrible either. I cannot complain. For the first time in months nobody, not a single person look at me with pity or sadness or told me how sorry they are about mine and my family’s loss. In a way I’m thankful that all the attention and gossips were on Megan and Ashton. Next time I see him alone maybe I’ll thank him. Everyone is wondering what really happened between them and what did Ashton do to get back at her.

    I still cannot believe that Megan cheated on Ashton and that she had s*x in the parking lot of the school. With whom did she have s*x with? It must not be with one of Ashton’s friends because he would have done something to someone else at the school. Ugh it’s already the first day of school and here I am wondering about the gossips.

    I go in the direction of my car. The parking lot is quiet, not a soul in sight. As I approach my car, I see smoke coming from another car. I went to look if someone had trouble with their car. I make way to it with precautions, I’m still scare of fires. The car is an expensive one I think it's tha same one as my mom's, sweet ride. As I got closer, I saw that a guy was lying on top of the engine hood, smoking. So, the smoke was because someone was smoking.

    I go back to my car when I hear the person sliding of off the hood of the car. I turn around once again and Ashton is right in front of me in all his glory. He looks at me with a blank expression. What’s wrong with him? Is he by chance bipolar or something?

“What do you want?”

“Nothing.”

“Then what are you doing here?” Why is he so mean? I haven't done anything to him.

“I saw smoke and thought that the car was on fire.”

“Oh. Just smoking. You going to take my cigarette again?”

“No. Bye.” I stop walking. Why did I?

“Wait. Where are you going don’t you have class?” I start walking again, not wanting to answer him. He does not need to know anything about me.

“You’re just going to keep ignoring me? Autumn are you deaf or something?”

I keep ignoring him and going in the direction of my car. I can hear his footstep following me. Doesn’t he have someone else to bother?

“You weren’t like this. You used to have a smile on your face, it would light a room spreading happiness. You didn’t use to ignore people.”

   My mind goes back to those times where I used to be like that carefree and happy. None of that matters now, everything is different. He used to see me smile? I didn’t notice he looked at me.

“It’s none of your business if I smile or not. Leave me alone.”

“You are the one who keeps showing up in front of me.”

“Me? Yeah, right. You are the one that appears wherever I am. First in my classes and then at lunch when I was outside. Are you following me Ashton?”

“You do know my name. I am definitely not following you. Why should I? And I don’t have control over my assign classes or that at lunch I went outside to smoke. You know that you saw it, you smoke from my cigarette.”

“Whatever. Let’s just keep our distance, I stay out of your way, and you do the same. And about the smoking don’t tell anyone. If you do, I’ll end you.”

I start walking again to my car for the hundred time not wanting to talk with him anymore. Then he starts yelling at me.

“Feisty I like that. Don’t worry it is our little secret, Auty.”

    Feisty his ass. Auty, he must have heard Asher call me that. It feels weird hearing it from him but at the same time it fits him calling me that. It’s like he has permission or something, but it’s also a promise that we will see each other again. I don’t know I must be going crazy. I need an iced coffe to calm myself. I’ll go to the nearest cafe and by a large one and maybe and Iced Passion Tea lemonade for Ruby, too.

I text Sarah if she was coming over to my house later and if she was going to sleep there.

“No, babe. Mom wants to have diner with me and sis. Sorry. Talk to you later?”

“Don’t worry. I was asking because I’m going to stop and buy coffe and iced tea.”

“Oh, damn it. Now I want an Iced tea. That’s okay, Auty. Maybe I’ll tell Marcus to buy me one.”

“Ok. Talk to you later. Love you.”

    After that I start the car and exited the parking lot not before noticing that Ashton already left. I went to a cafe and bought my iced coffe and Ruby’s iced passion tea lemonade. 

    Since I now leave early from school, I decided to pick Ruby at her school. I have to call mom or dad and tell them. I know Jen would have done it, but she told me she was leaving earlier, and Parker is visiting some old friends from high school. I park the car in front of a house and call mom, she is must likely to answer me, dad has been busy with the company specially now that Jen is taking over as CEO.

“Hi sweety. Why the call?”

“Hi mama. So, I don’t have my last class and I was wondering if I can pick Ruby at her school? It’s better than her taking the bus or walking home. You know I don’t mind. I called you to let you know and if it was okay.”

“Well precious I don’t mind but I thought your sister was picking her up.”

“But Jen call me at lunch and told me she had to leave early something came up at the company. She didn’t call you?”

“Oh, yeah. But she told me she was going to wait for you when you get from school. She also told me that she scared you a little bit with a text. You, okay?”

“I’m fine mom. I was caught a little of guard and thought something happen. I tell you better at home. So, am I going to pick Ruby?”

“Go pick her up. I’ll call Jen.”

“Ok. Bye mom. Love you.”

“Love you too, precious.”

    I would have call Jen, but mom said she was going to do it. I put the car in drive and headed towards Ruby’s school. It took me 10 minutes getting here. I see all the kids playing around and laughing. 

    I get out of the car and lean against it drinking my coffe, waiting for Ruby to see me. She was playing around with three other girls. The three girls look identical, they must be triplets. One had dirty blonde hair it almost look light brown and the other two had a more lighter shade blonde. Another car parks next to mine, this car looks like my mom's. Wait. Please don’t let it be him.

“This must be the seventh time we see each other in a day? Definitely more than before. When we used to see the other only in games once a month or something.”

You have got to be kidding me! Is he stalking me? What is he doing here?

“What the f**k Ashton? Are you following me?”